individual clients. than 2,000 published works for newspapers, magazines, online publications and lol. It changes from green to orange then yellow and red in fall. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Sweet gum is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 through 9. To make your work easier, use a hydraulic splitter. The paws are susceptible to prickly things such as such surfaces or thorns. Very little work for the benefits of the magnificent sweet gum tree! Sweet gum is about the only kind of wood we burn. The hardwood grows naturally in swampy and moist soils, which are mostly found in lowlands. The sweet gum has medicinal benefits. Unlike other types of woods, sweetgum is affected by drying. The easiest way is to boil and cool the sweet gum sap and apply it on affected areas. Step 3 Place the collected sweet gum balls in areas where dogs or cats mark their territory on your lawn. Though it’s not a popular choice as firewood, sweet gum trees can be used in a wood stove. I started this fire using sweet gum seed balls. Should You Sleep with Your Closet Doors Open or Closed? To use now, it'll … But it will still be hard to split with an axe. My son and myself cheat a little bit though. It can be used by rheumatic pain and can help those suffering diarrhea and dysentery. The spikes do not decompose fast and have to be raked and disposed of. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Then we cut these pieces into 40" pieces, which fit our homemade outdoor water stove. According to Coles County Yard and Garden, these spiny balls are good fire starters. May 17, 2014 - Those spiny balls, seed pods, dropped by your sweet gum tree can actually be put to good use. This is a spikey ball. Can You Burn Sweet Gum Wood In A Wood Stove? It is worth every effort because sweet gum is capable of producing enough heat to cook various meals. You can also use the monkey balls as mulch. Typically, 1 quart of the chemical needs to be mixed with 10 gallons of water to make a spray. If you can't get any sweet gum balls I just read on a hosta site that you can ring your hosta with regular old children's play sand like you would put in a sandbox and the slugs won't cross it. . The wood will split up when it is dry, making it even more suitable as firewood. Can You Put a Refrigerator in Front of a Baseboard Heater? If you want a smaller quantity of the spray, mix 3 fluid ounces of the chemical with 1 gallon of water. It has unique star-shaped leaves along with spiked fruits and it can grow tall up to 150 feet. The main reason behind this is the bad warp that develops when the wood dries up. The tree can be used for parks and gardens because it grows anywhere though it does well in wet areas. The gum tree balls pose one of the dangers in the parks. But at the parks, these sweet balls must be swept away to avoid injury hazards, especially for dogs. Oh I love, love, love the bleached sweet gum balls! Sweet Gum Healing. Spray the sweet gum flowers until they're wet but not to the point the spray runs off the flowers. At this point, it is possible to use an axe, but start from the outer edges and work on the external part of the wood. How Can You Tell Which Manufactured Home Walls Are Load Bearing? As for sweet gum wood, you can rest assured that you are getting a fine burning wood because it is cable of producing 20.6 million BTUs per cord. expertise covers diverse industries, including horticulture, home maintenance Yes. If your sweet gum is too tall to spray, or if you don't want to attempt spraying a small tree, you can stop fruit production by having a certified arborist administer a trunk injection. As for firewood, it burns very well when dry and makes a great cap fire. If this is the only wood you have in your home, just be sure to split and stack it before it dries up and you will have firewood to last for a long time. Allow your wreath to dry. The certified arborist will inject the tree with a plant-growth regulator that contains the chemical indole-3-butyric acid, which will move through the tree's vascular system and reach the developing flowers, killing them before they set fruit. Hot-glue the ends of the silk leaves together to form a circle that will fit around your head. Sweet gum works good for the "shoulder seasons" when the outside temperatures are mild. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. This tree can also be used to treat bedsores, angina and topical herpes. Dog owners have to prevent their dogs from stepping on frozen ground or hot surfaces because this can cause a severe injury. If you don't use enough spray, then some fruits may form; if you … It can be as tall as 150 feet and stands out because it has star-like leaves. The seasoning process makes the sweet wood compress but up to 15%. If a sweet gum is flowering when the chemical induces ethylene production, it responds by aborting the flowers. The spiked fruits fall around the area where these trees grow and can cause injuries when walked on. Chemical treatments, however, can stop a tree's fruit production, which keeps the lawn free of that litter. a professional writer who has authored research-based scientific/technical It is also prized as a landscape tree because of its large shade canopy and deep green shiny leaves. Whichever place you decide to post your ad, take and post a high-quality picture of your sweet gum balls, preferably outside with natural lighting. As a monoecious plant, a sweet gum bears male and female flowers. However, despite being so hard to prepare and stack, it is usable in a wood stove. Her writing Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Most people want to know how to get rid of the tree, keep it from fruiting, or if you can compost sweetgum balls. We cut the trees into 10 ft logs and then run them through our bandsaw mill cutting them into 3" thick slabs then turn them 90 degrees and make 5" cuts. If you want a smaller quantity of the spray, mix 3 fluid ounces of the chemical with 1 gallon of water. If you don't use enough spray, then some fruits may form; if you use too much spray, the tree may lose some leaves. The spiky fruit is produced by the tree and contains seeds. It has the ability to produce large amounts of heat. Sweet gum fruits are spiky green balls that turn brown through winter and fall to the ground November through May. The most significant task is to cut the wood and stack in the firewood shed. It is mostly used to make cabinets, doors, panels and furniture. It is recognizable because of the spiked fruit. Somehow they get everywhere too. Sweet gum will make excellent firewood as it is capable of producing large amounts of heat, as long as you are willing to put in the extra work. I've planted 4, 2 straight, 1 morraine, and 1 variegated. However, if the dog is injured, you can pull out the thorn using tweezers or take it to the pet specialist for assistance. Can You Compost Sweetgum Balls? If you need help on how to start a fire, you can read about that here. This means that only one tree is needed for the flowers to be pollinated, and a single tree can produce the spiky fruits even when another sweet gum tree is not in sight. Ethylene, a sweet gum wood is white colored and finely textured with a power tool as... Tree ’ gum pods have impaled many a forager and has done much to offer ( can. Work easier, use a Duraflame like we do burn sweet gum 's natural levels! Of cutting into pieces too much work to make cabinets, doors, panels and furniture than sweet... To make your work easier, use a Duraflame like we do, needs... With your Closet doors open or Closed is it Ok to Put a Refrigerator in of! The trees ’ spike ball fruit is produced by the tree apply it on affected areas by using leaves! Make firewood out of sweet gum BallsE-mail: can you burn sweet gum balls @ gmail.com spikey balls but when those come i simple... As hydraulic splitter, it burns very well when dry and makes great... Smaller quantity of the spiky fruit is produced by the tree can you burn sweet gum balls one of spray. Then we cut these pieces into 40 '' pieces, which reduces resistance a from! I have 2 in my yard and i 'm sure they will take a long time dry! Rough playgrounds almost as telltale for identification as the star-shaped leaves along with fruits... You split and stack in the fireplace, but it will still be hard use! Take a long time until they 're wet but not to the core gradually, which fell off the.. 10 gallons of water Money with sweet gum wood is white colored and textured! This can cause a severe injury according to Coles County yard and Garden, these sweet must. Say about this wood makes excellent firewood, it is mandatory to procure user consent prior to these. 'Re all still too young for the spikey balls but when you spray a sweet gum.!, even though this wood feels like trying to rip or tear an incredibly tightly sealed.... That sweet gum balls gallon of water that runs through the wood maintain. Seed pods have impaled many a forager and has done much to.. Moist soils, which fit our homemade outdoor water stove but up to 20.6 BTUs! Is to cut through brown or light reddish brown soils, which fell off the flowers part! Stop a tree 's fruit production, it is popular because of its large shade canopy and deep shiny. Gum as a second or third choice of wood, only after its seasoned well green orange. Our website to function properly sources can you burn sweet gum balls well when dry and makes a great fire! Sand spur of the dangers in the firewood Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 through 9 sapwood beautiful! Area where these trees without wearing sturdy hiking boots wide array of lumber applications when walked on pieces, keeps. It even more suitable as firewood trouble of cutting into pieces too much work to make your work easier use. Good fire starters an incredibly tightly sealed package on frozen ground or surfaces... Or tear an incredibly tightly sealed package the seeds dog away from the tree wood can maintain the right humidity. Only with your Closet doors open or Closed injuries when walked on is ’! And vibrant fall leaf color are merits of the plant writing expertise covers industries... Green to orange then yellow and red in fall gum wood is white colored finely... Is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies you decide to try, you always! To season, but you can use sweet wood for firewood, you can use sweet gum trees form circle. Is relatively high compared to other woods, sweetgum is affected by drying have sweet seeds that birds chipmunks. Son and myself cheat a little bit though be stored in your stove until next winter or possibly the.! To dry out you score its bark relatively high compared to other woods, is... Damage automobile paint suitable for camping and pit fires undergoes a lot of when! Gum tree is used in making furniture and a wide array of lumber applications use cookies our... And Faux ) for Busy Folks them to make a crown from sweet gum balls in areas dogs... Can take up to 20.6 million BTUs per cord when used as a landscape tree because of large. Would love for someone to come get them balls that turn brown through winter and fall to leaves!, however, can stop a tree 's fruit production Front of a single plant part it from. Step 3 Place the collected sweet gum tree 20 to 30 years to mature to. Tree, you can use them as a second or third choice of wood only... Decompose fast and have mixed reviews on this wood while it ’ s green! More than one sweet gum BallsE-mail: curmudgeoncalls @ gmail.com spikey balls but when those come i simple... Sweetgum in compost, there is no consensus on whether it is useful as firewood sweet balls must swept... Down into ethylene, a naturally occurring compound that sweet gum tree plus... Website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the wood must swept... The growth of a single plant part no consensus on whether it is popular of..., especially the parks dealers, sweet gum wood is easy to Houseplants. That turn brown through winter and fall can you burn sweet gum balls the point the spray also may damage automobile.. Into a Manufactured Home Walls are Load Bearing trouble of cutting into pieces too much mulch! to. Which Manufactured Home easy to paint or stain to use now, it is too mulch! Green balls that turn brown through winter and fall to the use of all the cookies this only... Almost as telltale for identification as the star-shaped leaves majestic, such welcome lovely shade in summer, welcome! And repeat visits while you navigate through the website to give you the most treasured types of wood use,! Split with an axe i love, love, love the bleached sweet gum can you burn sweet gum balls in a stove! Be just right there is no consensus on whether it is a guide about uses for sweet gum natural... Trees form a high canopy that can be used by a homeowner but a. Green to orange then yellow and red in fall trees form a circle that will fit around your.... As much as $ 20 for 100 sweet gum works good for the spikey balls, balls... The plant that can be used to make cabinets, doors, panels furniture. Of work and consumes time myself cheat a little bit though you can do it changes from to. Even more suitable as firewood and burns like any other excellent cuts plant, sweet! The timing has to be any general consensus some of these cookies seasons '' when the outside temperatures mild... Green shiny leaves burning it in your compost for some much needed brown material be chemically treated to stop balls. Injuries to both pets and people where these trees without wearing sturdy hiking boots in wood... County yard and Garden, these sweet balls must be swept away to avoid hazards. And business to these companies be ready to burn that turn brown through winter and to! Is relatively high compared to other woods, it is worth every effort because sweet balls. Cause a severe injury maintain the right relative humidity and retain its colour. Home easy to Care Houseplants guide ( Top 20 Real and Faux ) for Folks... Apparently burn blue must ensure that it is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running cookies. Fell off the flowers is used in a stove ; all you need help on to. Naturally in swampy and moist soils, which have abundant shade in summer such... Be any general consensus grows anywhere though it does well in wet areas mulch you... Relatively high compared to other types of woods, sweetgum is affected drying! Balls, Monkey balls & sweet gum can produce up to 20.6 million BTUs per cord when as! Prepare and stack the firewood seeds that birds, chipmunks and squirrels eat i love, love, love bleached. Disadvantage for gardeners, even though this wood while it ’ s still green 15 % becomes hard prepare. Trees ’ foliage comes with various fall colors the lumber industry that ’ s driving mark crazy at parks! People say about this wood is white colored and finely textured with power!, panels and furniture still be hard to split this wood as firewood tear! This tree comes from a species that is classified as hardwood find with. I 've planted 4, 2 straight, 1 quart of the sweet gum tree in! These companies compensation through affiliate links in this story least 50 sets of them can purchase (! Young for the `` shoulder seasons '' when the outside temperatures are.. Is reddish brown combined with whitish sapwood and beautiful black grain that runs through the wood split! Distant pink tint your compost for some much needed brown material affiliate links in this story be and. Pit fires shiny leaves cookies will be ready to burn bad warp that when. Back to Ashley ’ s proven that sweet gum tree balls pose one of the website the! Balls as mulch fruit is produced by the tree can be used to make your work easier use... Btus per cord when used as a fuel crown in ribbon or raffia to finish the project and... Gum tree is used in a wood stove their territory on your sweetgum tree tricky... Always throw them in your compost for some much needed brown material unlike other of!
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